A CHAMPION horse rider died tragically after falling into the path of a car when it's thought the horse she was riding was 'spooked' by the vehicle.

TRAGIC former champion horse rider Nicole Warren fell into the path of a car.

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A CHAMPION horse rider died tragically after falling into the path of a car when it's thought the horse she was riding was 'spooked' by the vehicle.

Young Swinton mum Nicole Warren, 23, a former champ horse rider, had not been riding for around seven months, when she decided to go for a ride on a pal's horse.

Sadly Nicole lost her life when the 17.2 hands high Shire horse Edward collided with a Volkswagen car.

At the inquest Salford coroner Alan Walsh, settled on a verdict of accidental death, after a confusing hearing of conflicting evidence.

The coroner sided in the end with an equine expert and a police accident investigation officer, believing that the six-year-old horse may have been startled by the car, causing the young mum to fall into the path of the vehicle.

The horse shunted the car across the road, while the vehicle dragged Nicole along trapped underneath.

Nicole, of Kingsley Road, who bred horses at Hooper Green Farm in Westhougton, had taken a break from riding to breed them.

On the day of her death on June 23, 2006, she decided to get back in the saddle. She was wearing trainers and no riding helmet.

Riding a short distance with her friend, Nicola Kennedy, along a quiet footpath, Nicole approached Platt Lane when the collision happened.

Nicole's friend, Alan Ferguson, witnessed the incident from a distance. He claimed he'd seen the car 'flying' before he heard a bang, followed by screams.

Nicola Kennedy broke down as she told the court: "There were no cars coming from anywhere. Everything happened in a flash."

Driver Michelle Farnworth told the coroner she had been driving within the speed limit and she didn't see the horse.

She said: "I didn't know what had banged on my bonnet. I remember hearing thud, thud under my car and I stopped."

A police accident investigation report confirmed Miss Farnworth had been driving at around 30 mph.

Vet David Eccles had treated the horse over the years and said it was a "calm and gentle" animal. Mr Eccles made the decision to put the animal down, after it suffered a fractured leg.

Professor of equine surgery Professor Peter Clegg said: "It's possible the incident was caused by the horse 'spooking' by a sudden fright. Every horse has the potential to do this even when we don't expect them to."

Pathologist Dr Angela Ong said Nicole had died from asphyxia when she was trapped under the car. She died almost immediately.

Nicole's mum Julie Warren said: "From when she was young Nicole always rode horses. Most people ride without boots, helmet etc, I know it's a bad habit."

Mrs Warren left the court in floods of tears.

Coroner Mr Walsh said: "Nicole Warren was a champion horse rider in her youth. I have great sympathy with the family. No one could have envisaged she would die in these circumstances."